Sean at Story Chicago 2011

Sean's session with JR Kerr at the Story 2011 Conference in Chicago, September 2011. He talks about "Number the Stars," risk taking, Doug Whitmore's pectoral dance in "50 First Dates," and what he liked about his role in "Bigger than the Sky" and more!



More videos from the conference and info on this year's Story 2012 can be found on their website.

Sean Discusses Risk Taking

Last September, Sean attended a gathering before the start of the Story 2011 conference in Chicago. Victor Saad had the opportunity to talk briefly about his Leapyear Project with Sean, and blogged about it last November.

Today, Victor posted the full audio of their discussion about risk taking. Sean talks about the actions he took during a blackout in NYC (he says in 2006, but I think he means the 2003 blackout) and his Number the Stars movie project.

Sean concludes by saying "Anytime someone of good faith takes in upon themselves to call others to action and then leads by example is a sacred thing."

Sounds like his Run3rd project to me!

Listen here.

Photo by Victor Saad

Sean's passion project: Number the Stars

At the Story 2011 conference in Chicago this week, Sean Astin talked about his "passion project," a film adaptation of the children's novel "Number the Stars," with a script written by Sean and his wife, Christine. The book is based on the true story of a young girl and her family who help Jewish friends escape from the Nazis in Denmark in 1943.

The hand in this movie poster belongs to Sean's middle daughter, Elizabeth.

Last spring, Sean and his family met with Lois Lowry, author of the Newbery Award winning novel, at the Getty Center in Los Angeles over tea. In her blog, Lowry wrote: It was interesting to be in public with Sean, whose face is well known because of the Lord of the Rings movies, and to see the number of fans who come up to him and say, "Are you..." "Could you possibly be..?" "Can you sign my child's sweatshirt?" "Can I have my photo taken with you?" and to see that he remains cheerful and gracious. Fame could be a nuisance, I think.

Reports of Sean Astin at Story 2011

Photo by Leigh Hudson

Here are some live reports of Sean's session today at Story 2011, facilitated by JR Kerr of Park Community Church. From the many tweets and retweets quoting Sean, it seems as if he was well received by the audience. :-)

Ending Slavery in our Lifetime

Ending Slavery in our Lifetime

Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 5:45 PM - 7:15 PM

Location: PJ Clarkes Restaurant & Bar, 1204 N State Pkwy, Chicago, IL US 60610

Traffick Free and IJM Institute are hosting an exclusive intimate gathering to talk about ending slavery in our lifetime. Our host, JR Kerr will be interviewing our guest speakers who include Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings, Rudy, The Goonies), Bethany Hoang (Director of IJM Institute), and Laura Ng (Executive Director of Traffick Free).

Join us at PJ Clarkes Resturant & Bar, The Culver Room (3rd Floor). A cash bar and light appetizers will be provided. Program will begin at 6:30 PM.

In Chicago area? Have dinner with Sean Sept 14!

Are you in the Chicago area? Join Bethany Hoang and others from the International Justice Mission, Traffick Free and Create Possible at PJ Clarkes, Gold Coast at 5:45 pm.

Traffick Free and The IJM Institute are hosting an exclusive intimate gathering with Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings, Rudy, The Goonies) to talk about ending slavery in our lifetime.

Contact @jimmydlee23 via twitter for info or see the Facebook page for the event.

Sean is in Chicago for the Story 2011 conference September 15-16.

Sean to speak at Story 2011 conference

Sean Astin is a last minute addition to the roster of presenters at Story 2011, a two-day conference being held in in Chicago on September 15-16.


Story is designed for the creative class in ministry, with presentations from practitioners from a variety of creative fields to inspire and equip the producer generation. These include artists, filmmakers, musicians, authors and designers, among others.

For more information, visit their website or Facebook page.